TECHNOLOGY FOR SENIORS

A recent report showed that up to 1 million Americans are non-verbal. For someone who cannot easily communicate, the world can be a terrifying place. But there are some ways you can help a non-verbal loved one live a richer and fuller life. Emotion Board. A simple device showing a person expressing different emotions. The […]

Another interesting new study summarized in Psychiatric Times shows that light therapy may be very effective in the treatment of bipolar depression. “In a small study of midday light, 46 patients with moderate bipolar depression were randomized to 1 hour of bright white light at noon (7000 lux, which is less than the 10,000 lux […]

I know, I know. The first thing we think of when treating a person with Alzheimer’s typically isn’t decor. But crafting a home space that takes into account an Alzheimer patient’s difficulties while simultaneously turning the home into a memory recall tool is truly inspired thinking. More from WTOP. Her design philosophy also translates to […]

It’s still early, but a company called Therapeutic Solutions International has officially filed for a patent on a treatment for Parkinson’s disease using stem cells. “The patent application includes data, obtained in an animal model, showing that dendritic cells [a type of immune cell] obtained from umbilical cord blood have the potential to reduce inflammation […]

A few weeks ago we wrote about the FDA’s approval of Aduhelm for the treatment of Alzheimers’. It was the first new drug approved for treatment of the disease in decades, but it’s efficacy was greatly disputed even then. Now after weeks of controversy, the FDA has partially walked back the approval, ruling that it […]

A great article from The Advocate about how one can be a better caregiver. This passage is particularly important: “Though patience is often a difficult virtue to achieve, strive to reach it each day with your loved one. The capacity to tolerate without becoming overly annoyed can make you a better caregiver. When tensions rise […]

Summer means fun in the sun and surf for many, but for others it’s another season where being outdoors for extended periods can be uncomfortable if not painful or dangerous. That means it’s up to you to make sure your elder loved ones have activities to keep them occupied during the worst of the summer […]

As of this writing, rescue workers continue to pull bodies from the rubble of a collapsed condo in Florida, more than a week and a half after it first fell. Even as scores of families mourn for loved ones, authorities continue to seek the cause of the collapse, and to ensure that similar potential disasters […]

Mark Richt, former head football coach of the NCAA Georgia Bulldogs and Miami Hurricanes and current analyst for the ACC Network, has announced that he is now suffering from Parkinson’s disease. From ESPN: “Truthfully, I look at it as a momentary light affliction compared to the future glory in heaven. Thank you Jesus for promising […]

Western North America is currently dealing with both a critical drought, and an unprecedented heat wave. That means the upcoming fire season is projected to be among the worst ever. Every year wildfires cause millions in damage in the west, and cause immense suffering for people who lack the proper supplies to handle a wildfire […]

As huge chunks of the continental US are in the grips of a heat wave, it’s the best time to make sure your senior loved one is ready for these high temps. The CDC has some great generalist tips, but here are some of particular interest for anyone caring for a elderly loved one. Set […]

A great piece from the Arizona Daily Sun about the power of music therapy. “[Mary] Gaughan equates music therapy to more traditional therapies such as physical, speech and occupational — the only difference is that she uses music to address clients’ cognitive, social and physical goals. She said, in her experience, music therapy is highly […]

A new study shows that one of the major contributing factors to Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia may begin in the human gastrointestinal tract. New Atlas has a report on the study published in the journal Cell. The study shows that the development of Lewy Bodies – clumps of proteins that interfere with neurological […]

You love to see the younger generation helping out their elders. Due to COVID-19, more doctors have had to use telemedicine with their patients. Older and low-income patients may not have the tools or the knowledge to have those important appointments. A group of students is working to change that. For the past few months, […]

A potential bombshell study, if confirmed. “Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison now investigated a stem cell treatment in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease and found that neurons derived from stem cells can integrate into the correct regions of the brain, connect with native neurons, and restore motor functions. […] Six months after transplantation, […]

We recently blogged about light therapy, but this isn’t quite what we were thinking of. A team of scientists at the UK’s University of Southampton are using UV light instead to create images of neurons without the need for huge, high-energy emitters. “Dr. Bill Brocklesby, of the Zepler Institute for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, says: “The […]